Director Case Management & Social Services RN

About the Role

Come lead with us at Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital. The Director, Case Management & Social Services (RN) is responsible for strategy, function, and operations of the Case Management & Social Work department. This integrated, interprofessional role supports caregivers in delivering the highest quality, clinically appropriate care while promoting cost‑effective utilization of hospital resources. The position leads population‑focused teams, oversees department staff, ensures quality, productivity, functional excellence, employee engagement, staffing, budgeting, compliance, and a safe work environment.

Responsibilities

• Direct, develop, and implement strategic and operational projects and processes, either independently or through facilitated work teams, to achieve departmental objectives.
• Oversee staff selection, scheduling, supervision, retention, and performance evaluation; drive employee engagement, conduct regular department meetings, provide coaching, corrective counseling, and recognition.
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with medical staff, other departments, and units to promote teamwork and address patient care issues.
• Manage department operations, service standards, and patient/customer satisfaction; serve on entity committees and address patient complaints, physician education, and discharge planning.
• Ensure a safe and effective work environment by maintaining safety plans, credentialing, compliance with accreditation and regulatory requirements, and implementing process improvements (e.g., lean principles).
• Partner with physicians, quality, palliative care, and other departments to improve mortality indices, readmission rates, and safe, efficient discharge planning.
• Develop and manage operational and capital budgets, staffing plans, and cost‑effective strategies; lead utilization review committees and identify opportunities to reduce length of stay and resource consumption.
• Identify and implement innovative workflow solutions, lead task forces and committees, represent the organization in community or professional meetings, and drive change initiatives.
• Support staff career development through ongoing discussions, My Development Plan updates, and mentorship.

Requirements

• Master’s degree (or enrollment in a degree program with completion within two years).
• Five years of people‑management experience in a healthcare environment (four years for internal candidates with demonstrated leadership responsibility).
• Registered Nurse (RN) licensure in Texas; must obtain a permanent Texas license within 60 days if establishing residency.
• ANCC‑recognized Case Management certification (Magnet) to be obtained within one year of hire.

Knowledge and Abilities

• Demonstrated skills and competencies to safely perform assigned duties, validated through ongoing assessments and performance evaluations.
• Proficient in speaking, reading, and writing English, especially regarding patient and employee safety.
• Ability to interact confidently with others, fostering trust in the organization’s intentions.
• Effective use of interpersonal styles and techniques to gain acceptance of ideas and adapt behavior to tasks, situations, and individuals.
• Leadership qualities, critical thinking, self‑direction, initiative, and strong oral/written communication skills.
• Analytical ability to identify issues, compare data, draw conclusions, and develop appropriate solutions.
• Extensive knowledge of regulatory and accreditation requirements affecting the department.
• Highly effective written communication and presentation abilities.
• Capability to thrive in a fast‑paced environment with flexibility and adaptability.
• Experience leading teams, facilitating groups, building consensus, and earning senior leadership confidence.
• Skill in working under pressure, balancing competing priorities, and being solution‑oriented.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite; familiarity with InterQual preferred.
• Positive, supportive attitude and professional handling of confidential information.
• Excellent analytical, advanced negotiation and mediation, advanced time‑management, and expert collaboration skills.

Supplemental Requirements

• Work attire: business professional (no uniform, no scrubs).
• On‑call: may be required during emergencies (e.g., disaster, severe weather events).
• Travel: may require travel within the Houston Metropolitan area; travel outside the metropolitan area is not required.